Johnny Hooker Quotes in The Sting (1973)

Doyle Lonnegan: Your boss is quite a card player, Mr. Kelly; how does he do it?

Johnny Hooker: He cheats.

Johnny Hooker: Can you get a mob together?

Henry Gondorff: After what happened to Luther, I don't think I can get more than two, three hundred guys.

Johnny Hooker: Luther! Good God, we're millionaires!

Luther: Jesus! Did you know he was that loaded?

Johnny Hooker: Hell no. I just cut into him. I woulda settled for pawning one of them shoes.

[last lines]

Henry Gondorff: You not gonna stick around for your share?

Johnny Hooker: Nah. I'd only blow it.

Luther: How much did you lose?

Johnny Hooker: [winces] All of it.

Luther: In one damn night? What are you spraying money around like that for, you could've been nailed.

Johnny Hooker: I checked the place first. There were no dicks in there.

Luther: But you're a con man! And you blew it like a pimp!

Johnny Hooker: You're right, Henry. It's not enough. But

[laughs]

Johnny Hooker: it's close!

Loretta: I don't even know you.

Johnny Hooker: You know me. I'm the same as you. It's two in the morning and I don't know nobody.

Johnny Hooker: Listen, Gondorff! Am I gonna learn the big con or not?

Henry Gondorff: What's your hurry?

Johnny Hooker: I want to play for Lonnegan.

Henry Gondorff: You know anything about the guy?

Johnny Hooker: Yeah! He croaked Luther! Anything else I gotta know?

Johnny Hooker: [after he calms down] All right. He runs a numbers racket on the south side. He owns a packing house. A few banks.

Henry Gondorff: Yeah, and half the politicians in New York and Chicago. Not a fix in this world is gonna cool him out if he blows on you.

Johnny Hooker: I'll get him anyway.

Henry Gondorff: Why?

Johnny Hooker: 'Cause I don't know enough about killin' to kill him.

Henry Gondorff: You can't do it alone, you know. It takes a mob of guys like you and enough money to make them look good.

Johnny Hooker: I know plenty of guys.

Henry Gondorff: It's not like playing winos in the street. You can't outrun Lonnegan.

Johnny Hooker: I never played for no winos.

Henry Gondorff: You gotta keep his con even after you take his money. He can't know you took him.

Johnny Hooker: You're scared of him.

Henry Gondorff: Right down to my socks, buster! You're talkin' about a guy who'd kill a grifter over a chunk of money that wouldn't support him for two days!

Johnny Hooker: He's not as tough as he thinks.

Henry Gondorff: Neither are we.

Henry Gondorff: Is Lonnegan after you too?

Johnny Hooker: I don't know. I ain't seen anybody.

Henry Gondorff: You never do, kid.

Henry Gondorff: Glad to meet you, kid. You're a real horse's ass.

Johnny Hooker: Luther said I could learn something from you. I already know how to drink.

Johnny Hooker: I gave him the breakout just like you said.

Henry Gondorff: And?

Johnny Hooker: 'S good. He threatened to kill me.

Henry Gondorff: Hell, kid, they don't do that, you know you're not getting to 'em.

Johnny Hooker: Hey, where's June?

Loretta: She quit. I'm filling in for a couple of days, till I can get a train outta here.

Johnny Hooker: Yeah? Where ya going?

Loretta: I don't know. Depends on which train I get on.